Car door



sept 20,1932- A. s. BARRows CAR DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 23,1928 Sept. 20, 1932. A. s. BARRows CAR DOOR Filed April 23, 1928 2Sheets-Sheet 2 (description and jing.

Patented Sept. 2,0, 1932 tenses] UNITED stares raresrerrics ALLAN S..BARROWS, F LOS ANGELES; CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE YOUNGSTLGWN STEELnoon Co., or CLEVELAND',

CAR noon Application inea Aprn as,

This invention relates to improvements in car. doors.

As is well known to those skilled inthe art, there are many railroadofficials who ,pref fer box car doors of the iiush type on Ythe groundsthat the same provide for better protection against the weather and alsobetter' protection against theft or unauthorizedV access to the interiorof the car. It is alsowell known to those skilled inthe art that thereis a general tendency to provide rrelatively large, wide door openingsin box cars in order to increase the usefulness of the car-z forcarrying different types of freight, particularly automobiles, whichnecessitate door openings of much greater width than the usual dooropening of a box car.- Coupled with the demand for wider door openings,which involvethe use of auxiliary and main doors, and the desire on thepart of many railroad oilicials for doors of the flush type, is theincreasing demand fordoors of the socalled sheet metal type whichprovide greater strength and cost appreciably less to maintain. f

One object of my invention, therefore, is

.to provide a door arrangement particularly adapted for box cars, whichwill efficiently and economically meet all of the requisiteshereinbefore indicated and, more specifically to providera double, allmetal, flush door arrangement. l Another object of my invention is toprovide an improved sheet metal type of door particularly adapted `forHush mounting wherein tained.

Another object Vof my invention is to provide a door arrangementparticularly adapted forboX cars wherein is employed an auX- ihary doorforobtaimng greater width of door opening-when required, in combinationwith a `flush main door, with provisions for obtaining satisfactorysealingy against weather and theft.

Other and more specific objects of my invention will more clearly appearfrom the claims hereinafter followln the drawingsrforming a part of'this great strength and rigidity are obl 192s. serial No. 272,038.

specification, Fig. l is a side elevationalview of a portion of a boxcar showing myimy' provements in connection therewith. Fig." 2isavertical, sectional view, parts` being brokenaway, corresponding tothe section line 2-2 of Fig. V1, the scale of Fig. ,2 being appreciablygreater thanthat of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional viewcorrespond:V- ingto `the line 3-.3 of Fig. l, the scale being largerthan that of Fig. 1 and parts being broken away in order to accommodatethe ligure on the sheet. Figs. l and 5 are detail,

vertical sectional views corresponding to the section lines 4-4 and 55of Fig. 3. VAfind Figs. 6, 7 and 8 vare viewssimilar to Fig. 3 showingthree modified forms ofthe forward edge of the auxiliary door. A 1 Y linsaid drawings Yand referring first to the construction illustrated inFigs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the side wall of the car isind-icated at 10land the wide door opening thereof is defined by a threshold 11, lintel12, and posts 13 and 14. Referring to Fig. 2, the threshold is'shownprotected by a sheet metal plate 15 and the threshold vis recessed errabbeted as indicated at 16 to permit of the flush positioning of thedoors. Similarly, the posts'13 and 14 are protected by plate covers l?and L18 and are also cut back or rabbeted as indicated generally by thereference character Al and the main door by thereference character B.The detail construction of these doors will be described hereinafter.Each is mounted for flush positioning when over the door opening and tothis end, lower track- 23 is employed, with which the door A isassociated, and a corresponding upper track 24. These` tracks, both ofwhichare shown as `are employed, the auxiliary door being`indicomprisedof Z-bars, have a straight section parallel withthe side wallof thecar,` as best indicated in Fig. 3 and then an inwardly inclined portion,onlyone Vof which is indicated at 123, for the lower track. Cooperable iwith the lower track are two hanger brackets along the rear edge of thedoor A and, at its upper end, is pivotally associated with a rollerhanger bracket 29, the roller 39 of which rides upon the uppertrack'2-l. A second roller hanger bracket 3l is liziedly se.-

cnred to the upper righthand corner of theV door A, as best showninllig. l. f -Asindicated in Fig. 2, the hanger brackets'are all soformed as to have a channel formation enibracing the depending flangesofthe bottoni 'and top tracksrespectively.y The door Biscorrespondinglymounted on similar lower andupper tracks 2n3randi22-/lland is provided with an upper fixed roller bracket 231i,

affixed lower hanger bracket 225an operating shaft 22'?, the latterhaving a hanger bracket 226 pivotally secured to its lower end, and acorrespondingrolle'r bracket 229 pivotally connected thereto at itsupper end.

The means specifically` shown and above described for supporting thedoors 'and adapting the latter for flush positioning, may be variedwithout departure from myinvention, the particular nieans shown being oflwell known form and b ing somewhat similar to those disclosedin my.prior Patent 1,395,- 080, of @ctober 25, i921. As either door A or-Bapproaches its closed position, the forwardredge thereof will be movedinwardly to the flush position, due to the inclination of thetracks'and, after the door has been adif'anced in a closing direction tothe full e5;- tent, the voperating shaft 2i' or 2227, as the case maybe, is then actuated and the corresponding 4rear edge of the doorforced-in-A wardly to the flush position.

Referring to the'inain door B, the saine is comprised *principally*A ofsheet metal and may be constituted of a single sheet or preferably madein three panels arranged horizontally one above the other. Theinetalsheets are provided with outwardly erteiidedvertical edgevcorrugations 32 and 33 and between therlatter and merging at 'theirends therewithA are a plurality of horizontally extending and outwardlydisposed corrugations 3fl.

uThe vertical corrugations32 and are so positioned with respect to thefront and rear edges of the door proper as to leave flat marqv np L' Ii. f..

gins @o and eo respectively, the latter being somewhat 'wider thantheformer, in order to accommodate the bearing bracketsA for theoperating shaft.

vAs shown'best in Fig.l3', the verticall corrugations are braced'bymeans of bridging strips37 and 33, the former preferably having itsouter end bent back :so as to envelop the'corresponding marginal portion35, the

'tivev corrugations. lhas'flat marginal portions on all four edgesterasse bridging strips being riveted or spot welded to the main sheetsof the door on opposite respectively, over which ar-e applied thecorresponding bridging strips 334 and 43a, respectively, as shown inFig. 2, said bridging strips being also'rivetedor spot welded" to themain sheets above and below their respecln this manner, the door andeach,v marginal portion -consists of two or more plies of sheet metal,thus providing a door of: relatively great strength per unit of weightand one well adapted to resist'stresses occurring. in. any direction.Further, it will be. noted that the edges ofthe door, althoughconsistingof two or more plies of metal, are of comparatively smallover-all thickness, thus requiring. only 'relatively shallow recessingor rabbeting of the meinbersdeining the door opening. y Y

The auxiliary-door A Vis constructed the saine as the door B throughoutthe niain body portion tlier-eofand alongtlie top, bottom and rearedges. A different construction is necessarily employed at the forwardedge of the auxiliaryvdoor A, the details thereof being! shown in Fig.3. At its forward edge, the door. A, instead of having a verticalcorrugation with a flatinarginal portion therebeyond, has the sheetinclined outwardly, as indicated at 39, to a plane preferablycorresponding to theplane definedl by the outermost portions of thestrengthening corrugat'ions or .indentations The sheet metal is thenextendedV as'indicated at 40 in a plane parallel with the main plane ofthe sheet. SelCured to this forward edge portion of th-e auxiliary doorand on the inner side thereof is a preferably rolled metal post lll. Thelatter is of generally channel cross section-and has a long flange l2 onthe side adj acentthe doorl and a second flange43 on the side remotefrom and the-bottoni section at 45. The latter'is riveted, spot weldedor otherwise rigidly secured to the flat marginal portion 40 of the doorand the flange 4l is similarly rigidly securedtothe sheets Vcomprisingthe door A -in thefinain plane of the latter and at point-s inwardly ofthe inclined section 39. As jwill -be clear from an inspection of Fig.3, an inwardly facing channel lor recess is thus pro- 4vided at theforward edge ofthe door A for the reception of the wood post or nailingpost 46, which is suitablysecured within the metal `post ,4l by any'suitable means* such as bolts and thus adapting the wood posts forrenewal. --The sheetmetal sections 39 and 40 and the sections Ll2 andlll of the post, together" iX Loca 'ciA constitute a tubular arrangementwhich ini- -parts great strength and rigidity to-the forward edge. ofthe auxiliary door'and one well adapted to resist either twisting ordistortion from bendingin any direction. f i

The outermost iange43 isso extended as to overlap to an appreciabledistance, the inner face of the forward edge of the main door B `andtogether with an angular strip 47 whichisriveted or otherwisesecuredtoxthe post 41, constitutes aguide and recess for themultiple-ply forward edge of the door B and also constitutes a weathervseal therefor. In `this connection', it will be noted thatthe g verticaledge corrugation 32 of the door B forms a bafll-e for rain orthe likewhen the car is traveling toward the right, i as viewed Vin Fig. 3 and,similarly, when the car is traveling to the left, the forward edgeportion of the auxiliary door A, and more particularly theinclinedportion 39, and metalp'ost 41, provide a similar baille, thus minimizingthe amount Vof rain, snowor dirt that may be driven into the sealingjoint between the twodoors. Y

In addition tohavingth-e forward edge of the auxiliary door A movedinwardly through the tracks and hangers, it is important that saidforward edge be rigidly held .against lateral movement when the ooroccupies a closed position. For this'k purpose, I secure to thethreshold, a plate 48 which is provided on the upper face thereof with agroove `49 having a relatively wide entrance vopening or '5 mouth 50,the groove then beingV inclined away from the side wall of the car fora` considerable distance and having a iinalportion 51 which is parallelto the side wall'of the car. Cooperable with the-cam plate'48" is aucasting 52 applied to the bottom yofthe wood post 46, said plate52having a rounded down` Vwardly projecting stud 53 adapted to enter thegroove 49, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Although I have ldescribedthe details Vas f,- applied to the lower end of the .wood post 46,

only, :it will. be'understood` that a duplicateV arrangement is employedat the top thereof. Vith the arrangement described, as the forward 'edgeofthe doorA approaches final position, the upper and lower studs 53enter their respective cam slots 49 and the forward edge of the `door iscamed inwardly and then locked against lateralmov-ement when the studsenter the straight portions 51 of the slots.V Itwill also be understoodthat the slots 49 serve to positively limit the movement of the door Ain aclosingdirection and further, when the rear edge of the door A isthrown inwardly to Hush position, as shown LinFig. 3, the door ispositivelylocked against movement horizontally until the rear edgeis iagain i thrown out by the i operating shaft. 1

Referring to the-modification illustrated inrFig. 6, the main. door isyof the same construction asthat previously described; The

auxiliary door has the sheet metal thereof outi wardly inclined atits'forward edge, as indicated at 139 and thenceextendsparallel to theside wall, as indicated at 140. kA, somewhatisimilar channel shapedvmetal post 141 flat marginalportion 140 of the door'proper.

-Inthisinstanca however, the iange 142 of the postis not extended overthe inner face of the mainlportions of the sheet-s but is Vleft in linetherewith and an additional plate is einployed, the saine being rivetedor spot welded is employed, riveted or spot welded to the g to the flatmain portions'of the sheets and'also to the flange 142 of the channelpost. The weathersealing strip 147 cooperates with the other extendedflange 143 of the post, to prowith the modification of F ig. 3.

Referring next to the modication `shown in Fig. 7, the main door Bremains the `saine and the auxiliary door has a similar outwardlysloping'sectioii 239v terminating in a flat marginal portion y240. Inthis construction, the post member is preferably comprised of twoZ-sect-ion elements 2 41 and 341, the saine having theirflanges 245landj345 overlapped and secured togetherfand'also securedito the flatmarginal portion 240. The member 241 hasone of its flanges elongated, as`indicated at 242, the same being riveted or spot welded to the mainflat portions ofthe door sheets.

Infthe modification' shown Vin Fig.'l 3, the auxiliary door preferablyhasV the same Out'- -wardly'sloping section 339 flat marginal portion340, to which is'rigidly "secured a special section 70, they samehavingan elongated flange 71 overlying and rigidly secured to the main flatportions of the sheets; a transversey Y ly extending web 7 2.- and a`Vnarrower outer v flange 7 3, the latter being riveted or Votherwiserigidly secured to the flat marginal portion 340. Said flange 73 ispreferably flared out- Y wardly, as indicated at 74, to form-a guidelfor 77 thereof, being secured to the member 70' at the corner thereof. Athird'flange 7 8 of the member extends transversely inwardly andprovides a backing for the wood post 346. The yfourthV flange 79 of saidmember 7 5 exy tends parallel ,withl the side wall ofthe car and,inconjunction with said flange 7 3 forms va pocket or recess for thereception Vof the forward end of the main doorB and also a weather 'sealat `the-meeting edges of the two doors.

I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferredmanner of carryc. est) ing out my invention, but the same is merelyillustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that comewithin the scope of the claims appended hereto. i

rIclaimzv. i n

l. In a member having a door opening definedjin part by door posts,tliecombination with any auxiliary door; mounting means for moving said doorto a flush position when opposite one portion of said door opening; amain door; means, independent of said first named meansy land auxiliarydoor, for

4moving said main 'door to a flushV position when oppositethe remainingportion of said door opening; and cooperable'formations at the meetingedges of and rigid with respect thereto the two doors forming a weatherseal whenboth doors are in flush position whereby the main door may bemoved to open and closed position while the auxiliary door is in itsclosed position. i l

2. In a member having a door opening defined in part by door posts, thecombination withan auxiliary door; mounting means for [moving said doortoa flush position when opposite one portion ofsaid door opening; aYmain door; means, independent-of said first namedL means and -auxiliarydoor, for mov t ing said main door to a ,flush position when oppositethe remainingportion of said vdoor opening; and combinedV guide andvseat-forming means on theforward edge of and per- `manentlyafxedto theauxiliary door .for

the forward edge of the l ma-in door whereby the mainl door lmay b-emoved to open vand closed position while: theauxiliary door is in itsclosed position l y 3. vIn a carhaving ,a door opening, vthe Amembers ofthe. car dening the opening be# ing rabbeted for the reception of flushdoors:

the combination with an auxiliary sheet metal door; mounting meansadaptedto move said doortoa flush position'when opposite onepportionof'saiddoori opening; a main sheet'metal. door; means, independent ofsaid first namedmeans and, auxiliary door, for moving said main doorto aflush position when opposite .the remaining portionof said door opening;Y and cooperable Jformations at the meeting edges o-f and rigidlyaiiixed to the two doors forming a weather seal when both doors are iniiushposition vwhereby the main door may be moved to open `and closedposition while the auxiliary door is in its Closed position. l l f i Ina. carv having a door opening, vthe members ofthe oar deiining theopening being rabbe-ted for theirec'eptionlof flush doors:

the combination with an auxiliary sheet met- :al door; mountingnieansadapted to move said door toA aflusli position when opposite" 4oneportion of said door-opening' g, a vmain sheet metal door; means,independent of said 'first ,named means and auxiliary dooi,for

movin@` said main door to a` flush osition opening; of a horizontallyslidable main door adapted to close. the remainder of said opening saidmain door being movable to open position in a. plane laterally outsideof the car sidewall; mounting and operating means for said main doorarranged to move it laterally inward to flush position when broughtoppositeits closing position, said means being operablelwhiletheauxiliary doory is in fits* operative closed position, and combinedguide vand:seat-forming'means on the forward edge of the auxiliary doorfor the .forward vedge of vthe `main door.

6. In a box car having aside wall with a door opening therein, thecombination with a lsheet* inetal auxiliary door mounted to move toaposition vtoeclose part of said opening and toY a position to uncoversaid part of theV opening; a horizontally slidable sheet rmetal maindoor vadaptedto vclose the remainder of said opening, said main doorbeing vinovablefto open position in a planelaterally outside of the carsidewallymounting and operating means for .said main door arranged tomove it laterally inward to-flush position when brought oppositeeitsVclosing position, said means being operable whilethe auxiliary doorgisin its 'operative closed position; and cooperable formations at themeeting edges of said doors forming a weather seal Awhen :both "doorsare in theirkclosed positions.A y

,"gAsvan article'ofinanufacturefa door comprised principally of sheetmetal, the metal of the sheets having outwardly disposed strengtheningindentations and. provided at theforward edge ofthe door with a marginalportion outwardly offset from the mainplane ofthe door; anda metallicpost Vhavingfany offset therein Vand inner and .outer sections,'thelatter being secured. to the sheet metal in the `main planethereof andto saidmarginal portion, respectively.4

8.y As an article of manufacture,a fabricated. door comprisedprincipally of sheet metal and having strengthening indentations thereinextended outwardly from the main plane of the door; a vmetal post at theforward edge of the dooriand a-nailing' post secured to said metal post,the nailing post extending both inwardly. and outwardly beyond the mainplane of the sheet metal.

9. As an article of manufacture, a fabricated door composed chiefly. ofsheet `metal and having strengthening indentations therein extendedoutwardly from the main planey of the door; a metal post at the forwardedge of the door, said post being of channel formation with the channelfacing inwardly; and a nailing post secured to said metal post withinsaid channel, the nailing post extend- Y ing both inwardly and outwardlybeyond the main pla-ne of the door.

10. As an article of manufacture, a fabri` cated sheet metal door havingcorrugations therein extended outwardly from the main plane of the door,said door being provided at the forward edge thereof with a metal postof channel formation with the channel opening inwardly of the door, saidchannel formation being disposed between said main plane of the door andthe plane defined by the outermost portions of said corrugations.

ll. As an article of manufacture, a fabricated sheet Inetal door havingcorrugations. f therein extended outwardly from the main plane of thedoor, said door being provided at the `forward edge thereof with a metalpost' lof channel formation, with the channel opening inwardly of thedoor, said channel formation being disposed between said main plane ofthe door and the plane defined by the outermost portions of saidcorrugations, said post having a forwardly extended flange substantiallyin themain plane of the door; and a combined guiding and weather sealingstrip applied to said post on the forward I Jglide thereof and outwardlyspaced from said an e. f

'l As an article of manufacture, a car door having a main portionthereof com 40 prised of sheet metal with the front marginal portionthereof outwardly offset from the main plane of the sheet; and a metalpost structure at said forward edge of the door, said post structurebeing of generally chan` nel formation with the channel opening to theinner side of the doo-r and having flanges at each side of thechannelopening extending forwardly and rearwardly of the door, the rearwardlyextended flange being united to the main sheet portion `rearwardly ofsaid offset and the bottom of the channel section beingsecured to theoffset portion of the main sheet.

In witness that I lclaim the foregoing I H have hereunto subscribed myname this 223th day of March 1928.v l

ALLAN S. BARROWS.

